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About Round Lake.

Round Lake is a charming northern Illinois community dotted with clear glacial lakes, green hills, and wetland habitats. The village motto—“Real people living well, working hard, and having fun”—captures Round Lake’s playful, family-oriented atmosphere. Local events such as the Round Lake Hometown Festival unite community members of all ages and interests. Unique attractions such as the Nature Museum and Aquatic Center and the Round Lake Children’s Museum provide year-round family entertainment. With its convenient location near the Metra Milwaukee District North Line, Rockenbach Airport, and entertainment destinations such as Six Flags Great America, Round Lake is truly well-rounded.

Location

Round Lake is a pastoral suburb situated about 40 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop. The village is bordered by Round Lake Beach and Round Lake Heights to the north, Venetian Village to the northeast, Grayslake to the east, Hainesville to the south, Volo to the southwest, Lake Moor to the west, Long Lake and Ingleside to the northwest.

Round Lake is conveniently located along theMetra Milwaukee District North Line and is 50-70 minutes driving distance from O’Hare International Airport. Nearby major roads include I-94 West, Route 120, or Belvidere Road, and Route 132, or Grand Avenue.

History

Round Lake’s pristine green valleys were shaped by a retreating Wisconsin glacier. Farmers first entered the area in 1832 after the Black Hawk War, eager to take advantage of the area’s fertile prairies and numerous lakes. In 1890, the prosperous area drew attention from officials and the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad extended their line to the village.

In 1901, the Armour Company harvested ice from Round Lake for their refrigerator operations. A massive storage building with a capacity of 100,000 tons was built to store the ice. Round Lake was incorporated in 1909, electing Amarias M. White as president.

Real Estate

Round Lake’s pristine green valleys were shaped by a retreating Wisconsin glacier. Farmers first entered the area in 1832 after the Black Hawk War, eager to take advantage of the area’s fertile prairies and numerous lakes. In 1890, the prosperous area drew attention from officials and the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad extended their line to the village.

In 1901, the Armour Company harvested ice from Round Lake for their refrigerator operations. A massive storage building with a capacity of 100,000 tons was built to store the ice. Round Lake was incorporated in 1909, electing Amarias M. White as president.

Transportation

Round Lake has a Metra station on the Milwaukee District North Line. The line runs from the Fox Lake Metra to Union Station in downtown Chicago. Parking is available daily on a first-come, first-serve basis for a fee of $1.50 per day. Payment can be made at the collection box for each station or via a purchased Quarterly Pass. Passes can be bought at the Village Hall on 442 N. Cedar Lake Road for $90 at the start of the quarter.

The Round Lake Metra Station contains a permit only parking lot for pass holders located on Goodnow Boulevard off Route 134. The lot—known as Goodnow Lot-- contains 46 spaces.

Round Lake is just 50-70 minutes driving distance from the O’Hare International Airport. The suburb offers a number of nearby major roads, including I-94 West, Route 120, or Belvidere Road, and Route 132, or Grand Avenue. The Rockenbach Airport is also located in Round Lake.

Nightlife

Voted the 2009 Grayslake Business of the Year, The Vine (101 Center Street, Grayslake (847) 543-0900) is a nearby nightlife gem. Residents can sip fine wine or fantastic martinis on the open-air outdoor patio. Drink specials and events blend with the seasons as with the summer tequila tasting and the weekly Grayslake Farmers Market.

The nearby Blarney Island (27843 West Grass Lake Road, Antioch (847) 395-4122) is a great spot for a kitschy, eclectic, one-of-a-kind drinking experience. This Key West-style bar offers an island getaway from the comfort of home with fresh seafood and live musical entertainment. Voted Best Boating Bar in the World, Blarney Island is famous for its Thursday Night Boat Races. The event was recently featured in Extreme Boats Magazine.

Entertainment

Kristof’s Entertainment Center (421 West Rollins Road, Round Lake Beach (847) 546-2512) contains something for everyone, with bowling, billiards, minigolf, an arcade, go-karts, and batting cages. There’s even a bar for adult social gatherings. Bowling is just $1 per person per game with a $2.50 shoe rental. Pool is also only $1 per game. The 18-hole mini-golf course features challenging scenic holes with model waterfalls, castles, fountains, and more. Both go-karts and mini-golf cost $6 per person, $7 for a 2-seater that carries children under 52” tall. Batting cages can be rented for 30 minutes or one hour at a rate of $15 and $25 respectively.

The Volo Auto Museum (27582 Volo Village Road, Volo (815) 385-3544) is a unique nearby attraction. Shoppers enjoy the museum’s five antique malls, including a Mercantile Mall, collectible Antique Mall, and a Furniture and Bedding Mall. The Auto Mall is a showplace for 300 one-of-a-kind antique cars. The museum even features a number of Movie Cars styled in the vein of classic cars from classic films, including Batman’s Batmobile, Cars’ Doc Hudson, and the actual Porsche from Tom Cruise’s Risky Business.

Round Lake is less than 15 miles from one of Chicagoland’s most outstanding entertainment destinations, the Six Flags Great America theme park (1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee (847) 625-7518). The park offers an incredible range of fun activities from rides to water parks to live entertainment.

Great America’s Water Parks offer acres of cool refreshing fun with a double-sided surf simulator, Carribean-inspired activity pool, 100,000 square feet of thrilling waterslides, and luxury cabanas. The Hurricane Bay features a simulated ocean and a number of harbor rides such as Hurricane Mountain, Skull Island, and the award-winning Tornado.

Six Flags also features seasonal events. The park’s outdoor horror film festivals are popular with teens and young adults. The Halloween season brings the ghoulish Thrills by Day, Chills by Night Fright Fest with haunted houses, eerie entertainment, and a chance to ride the roller coasters at night!

Restaurants

Jay Ho India (399 Wilson Road (847) 740-2988) spices up the Round Lake food scene with amazingly authentic food and a bargain lunch buffet. The restaurant is known for its exceptional saag dishes and its savory chicken makhani. The fragrant masal chai is a perfect end of the meal palate cleanser or accent to dessert. Portions are enormous, so diners can always expect to leave with tasty left-overs.

Mike’s Grill & Catering (399 North Wilson Road (847) 740-2399) is a stellar restaurant for its gourmet food, ambience, and excellent service. In addition to its fabulous restaurant, Mike’s offers the best Drop Off Catering in the Chicagoland area, boasting over 30 years of fine food experience. A versatile and creative business, Mike’s provides plated dining, a BBQ menu, boxed lunches, themed menus, custom menus, and much more!

Lily’s Pizza & Sandwiches (615 North Cedar Lake Road (847) 546-3510) is a classic hot dog joint and diner that serves fabulous pizza and sandwiches. Walking distance from many local homes, Lily’s is a popular hangout for local high school and junior high kids.

Festivals/Parks

Round Lake is home to a number of unique family-friendly festivals, facilities, and seasonal village activities. The Home Town Festival (Village Hall, Goodnow and Avilon Street (847) 546-5400) is held every 3rd Tuesday of the month, featuring crafting events, car shows, pie-baking contests, a trackless train, a climbing wall, and much more! Local tribute bands provide a soundtrack of classic tunes. Vendors serve up ice cream, pizza, gyros, corn dogs, and other comfort foods.

Children enjoy the Christmas Tree Lighting (Village Hall (847) 546-5400), held on the first Friday of every December. Hot cocoa and cookies are served as the giant village tree is lit. A visit from Santa Claus himself is the highlight of this festive event.

The Nature Museum (860 Hart Road (847) 740-2826) is a unique interactive museum filled with free crafts and educational activities. The indoor area features a series of realistic model environments with sound effect buttons. The outdoor Interpretive Trail includes a beautiful pond and woodland flower area. The museum is attached to the Round Lake Aquatic Center, which includes two pools, a zero depth spray area, and a grassy area for sunbathing. These combined attractions make a great one-stop summer fun destination.

For year-round family entertainment, Round Lake offers the Children’s Museum (814 Hart Road (847) 546-8558). The Children’s Museum offers play environments for kids of all ages, including a tot-sized town square replica with a mini grocery store, gas station, and pizza store. Special events and classes are offered throughout the year such as the Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, Milk-n-Cookies with Santa, and exciting children’s theater productions.